Board voted 3-1 Wednesday to allow Samuel Selph to temporarily lead the agency.

Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Samuel Selph will serve as the interim director for the Richland County Election Commission.

The commission's board voted Wednesday afternoon to put Selph in that position. Selph, who was a member of the commission's board, resigned that job to accept the new title.

Selph is a longtime poll worker in the county and also served for 40 years in state government. He was the newest member of the board, having just been appointed last year.

He replaces Howard Jackson, who was fired by the board Monday in a 4-1 vote. The board also moved up the official end of his service, which was to have been Friday, to Wednesday at 5 p.m.

At a news conference Tuesday, Jackson outlined a series of problems he had with the board, saying they gave him "unlawful orders" and overrode his personnel decisions. Previous Coverage: Fired Elections Director Blasts Board

Jackson met with State Law Enforcement Division agents Wednesday about his claims.

News19 asked Selph about Jackson's allegations.

"I can't fathom some of the accusations that were made made," Selph said. "Certainly those stories are different from what happened in the board meetings that I was a part of."

Selph said he promised to make things better and meet with voting groups in the community.

"We're going to right this ship, and we're going to move forward."

Selph and the agency will get its first test soon: Blythewood holds town elections in 30 days. On June 10th, major primary elections will be held, including for the U.S. Senate, the governorship, and several statewide offices.

"I don't see a problem," he said. "If we follow the process, the system that is in place. We can have a fair, a smooth, and an efficient election."